The Girl Who Came Back (17 page)

‘I’m sorry,’ Andee whispered, ‘I didn’t mean to put you through it all again.’

Jules shook her head. ‘I’m fine,’ she assured her. ‘It’s not like I don’t think about it every minute of every day, seeing, knowing what I should have done differently, wishing to God that I had …’

After a while, Andee asked, ‘When did you find out the truth about her mother?’

Jules’s eyes went down. ‘At the same time that everyone else did,’ she replied, ‘but it made no difference, it was too late by then and I’ve heard other rumours since, that …’ She took a breath. ‘Let’s just say it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re true.’ She looked at Andee. ‘Have you heard them?’

Andee nodded. ‘And like you, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re true.’

With a sigh, Jules said, ‘I had the urge once to send Olivia Quentin details about the women’s refuge. I wish I had, things might have turned out very differently if she’d come to us.’

‘They might have, but you don’t know that for certain, so I hope you’re not blaming yourself.’

‘Not blaming, exactly, but it goes to show how important it is to act on worthy instincts, even if you end up being told to mind your own business.’

Conceding the point, Andee said, ‘So Stephie and Dean didn’t like the girl …’

‘None of Daisy’s friends did, it was only Daisy who had time for her.’

‘What about Joe? What did he think of her?’

‘The same as the rest of us, although obviously he saw a lot less of her. He definitely took against her when she started trying to come between him and Daisy … The way she did that …’ Jules shuddered. ‘We should have done something about her then. We tried, of course, but there was never any changing Daisy’s mind about someone she saw as an underdog, and as far as she was concerned Amelia was absolutely that …’

‘Mum, look at this,’ Daisy said, passing over her phone to Jules.

Wiping her hands, Jules took the mobile and frowned at the photo that had come with a text saying,
What do you think?

‘Is that Amelia?’ Jules asked, knowing it was and wishing it wasn’t.

‘She’s had her hair cut and coloured just like mine,’ Daisy stated in a mock how-lovely sort of way. ‘I don’t know whether to be flattered, or spooked.’

Knowing exactly how she felt, Jules said, ‘Well at least it suits her, sort of.’

Daisy took the phone back. ‘I’ll tell her you said that, she always likes to know what you think.’

Hoping that wasn’t true, Jules carried on with the evening meal she was preparing, expecting to be asked at any minute if Amelia could join them, and wishing she could think of a way to say no that wouldn’t earn her a lecture from Daisy on how important it was to be open-hearted and tolerant.

‘Ah, here she is again,’ Daisy declared, opening up a new text. ‘
Your mum’s so lovely. Please tell her thank you for what she said. You’re very lucky to have her
.’

Covering her real feelings with a twinkle, Jules said, ‘And don’t you forget it, young lady.’

‘As if you’d ever let me,’ Daisy shot back, and putting the phone down she returned to her iPad to carry on instant messaging with Joe. ‘Oh no,’ she groaned, ‘he’s having to change his flight and come later, because of a flaming football game.’

Only half listening, Jules said, ‘Is that such a disaster?’

‘It is for us. We don’t get to spend enough time together as it is. I really miss him when he’s not here.’ Picking up the phone as it bleeped with another text, she said, ‘Amelia again.
Did you get my last message? Just wondering because I haven’t heard back
.’ She sighed wearily. ‘What does she want me to say?’

Jules popped a leg of lamb in the oven. It was the middle of a sunny Saturday afternoon in October with only a few customers left over from a hectic lunchtime downstairs, and a group of forty-something ladies starting to turn up for a birthday tea in the library. Later, with a local jazz band due to play in the function room, and most of the pub tables booked out for one of Marco’s special Italian evenings, Jules, Kian and Daisy had all offered to help out where they were most needed.

Reading another text, Daisy said, ‘Oh, that’s brilliant. Stephie’s saying she can come and lend a hand tonight if we need her, and she’s pretty sure Dean will be able to get away too.’

‘Angels, the pair of them,’ Jules smiled. ‘Talk to Misty, I’m sure she’ll jump at the offer.’

A few minutes later, Daisy said, ‘OK, so I’ve told Amelia that I know how lucky I am to have such a fabulous mum and I’m really happy to share you. Would you like to have her as a daughter?’

Jules’s eyebrows rose.

Daisy swallowed a laugh. ‘You are so transparent, and mean. Poor Amelia doesn’t have anyone …’

‘Let’s not go there again. I’m afraid I can’t feel as sorry for the girl as you do, which probably makes me a really wicked person, but I never claimed to be a saint. Now, when exactly is Joe arriving, so Dad or I can schedule in an airport run?’

‘He’s going to let me know as soon as the flights are confirmed.’

Looking up from her supper preparations, Jules realised Daisy was watching her, head propped on her hands. ‘What?’ she prompted.

‘I’m just thinking.’

‘About anything in particular?’

‘Well, yes, I guess so. I mean, you know me and Joe are going to end up together, right?’

Jules cocked an eyebrow. ‘I kind of had a feeling.’

Smiling, Daisy said, ‘The trouble is, I don’t know if I want to go and live in the States. I mean, I do, obviously, to be with him, but it’s going to mean leaving you and Dad and the grannies and everyone …’ As tears filled her eyes Jules went to embrace her.

‘You don’t have to make any decisions yet,’ she reminded her. ‘There’s plenty of time.’

‘Except there isn’t. I mean, I already know I want to go to uni here, either in Bristol or Exeter, which means I’ve already chosen you and Dad over him, and I feel so bad about it because I know he was really hoping I’d try to get into the same uni as him.’

‘I’m sure he understands that you don’t feel ready to leave your roots yet …’

‘Of course he does. You know what he’s like, he understands everything and never puts on any pressure, but I know he’s afraid that I’ll end up not wanting to leave England at all.’

‘Then maybe he could come here when he’s got his degree?’

Daisy shook her head. ‘We’ve talked about that, but the law’s different here, so his qualifications wouldn’t work, and anyway he’d never get the kind of high-powered job in Britain that he would in the States.’

‘If he was in London he might.’

‘But his dad’s got loads of connections over there that could help him get started with a really big firm.’

Of course Nicholas would have.

Since Daisy was still looking torn, Jules said, ‘Listen, you’ll work something out when you have to. And in the meantime you shouldn’t get upset about it. Dad and I understand that you’ll be flying the nest one of these days, and it’s only right that you should.’ She didn’t add that it was going to break their hearts and suck all the life out of their home when it happened; that was a truth, a dread, Daisy never needed to know.

Gazing up into her eyes, Daisy said, ‘I can’t imagine ever wanting to leave you.’

Feeling the words curling lovingly around her heart, Jules smiled as she said, ‘That’s because you’re still only seventeen and the time hasn’t come for you to leave yet. When it does, believe me, it’ll feel right, and Dad and I will support you in whatever you decide.’

With a twinkle Daisy said, ‘It’s no wonder all my friends would love to have you two as parents. You’re so cool, and wise and easy-going and crazy – that’s Dad, obviously, although he’s not as crazy as he used to be, is he? I mean, he’s still like really out there, and he gets involved in everything we do, but …’ She shrugged. ‘He’s kind of different in a way. Still the best dad in the entire world, but different.’

Knowing she was to blame for the way a light had gone out in Kian four years ago, Jules turned away to hide her guilt and dismay. She might never have told him how she’d betrayed him, but he obviously knew that something had changed between them, and because of it the light he’d lost then had never really come back again.

Off went Daisy’s phone with another text. ‘Ah, it’s about the charity walk next Sunday,’ she announced. ‘Did you register yet?’

‘I did, and I need to pick up our T-shirts on Monday. I ordered thirty, is that enough?’

‘I think so, but I’ll check to make sure. Everyone wants to do it. Can we increase if we have to?’

‘I’m sure we can.’

‘Great. And our group’s supporting Granny Marsha and the Alzheimer’s Society. Do you think she’ll be able to manage the walk herself? When I asked her she said right away that she wanted to, but half an hour later she’d forgotten all about it. Anyway, I think ten miles is too far for her,’ Daisy added, reading another text. ‘Right, Amelia’s saying she’d LOVE to have you as a mother.’

Rolling her eyes, Jules looked up as Kian came in.

‘Ah ha, everything that’s Bright and beautiful in my world,’ he declared, going to plant a kiss on Daisy’s head. ‘What are you up to?’ Though he was looking at Jules, he didn’t approach her, and because she wasn’t sure what to do either, she ended up turning away.

‘Just stuff,’ Daisy answered. ‘Are you coming on the charity walk with us next Sunday?’

‘Sure, if I’m invited.’

‘Did you register him, Mum?’

‘No,’ Jules replied, guiltily, ‘but I will. How come you’re back so early?’ she asked Kian. ‘We weren’t expecting you until five.’

‘Blasted Land Rover broke down,’ he grumbled, going to put the kettle on. ‘Can’t do a safari without one, so mapping the new routes will have to wait. What news from Joe? Is he still arriving next Friday, as planned?’

‘No, he’s got a football game, so he’ll be here on the Monday or Tuesday. You know he can drive now, don’t you? He’s even got his own car.’

‘Which means can he borrow one while he’s here?’ Kian stated. ‘We’ll see, because it’s a bit different driving in England to driving in the States. For a start, can he handle a stick shift?’

Daisy shrugged.

‘OK, I’ll give him a couple of lessons and take it from there. Anyone else want tea?’

‘Not for me, I’m going to take a shower,’ Daisy replied, still reading from her phone as she got to her feet. ‘Great, Misty deffo wants Stephie and Dean to come in tonight, oh and Amelia’s asking what we’re all doing. I guess I should invite her?’

‘Tell her you’re working so it won’t be much fun for her,’ Jules advised.

‘I don’t think she’ll mind about that. The alternative is probably being at home on her own.’

‘Is her dad ever there?’ Kian wondered.

‘I guess, sometimes.’

‘But otherwise she stays in that great big house all on her own?’

Daisy shrugged. ‘There’s a housekeeper and other staff around, although I don’t think they live in. It sounds like an amazing place with its own indoor pool and stables and everything. I don’t think she’s short of things to do. I’ll warn her that we’re all working, but say that she’s welcome to come over anyway. Actually, I don’t think I invited her on the charity walk. I should probably do that. Oh, and we’ll be able to see her new hair.’

‘New hair?’ Kian echoed.

Since Daisy had already gone, Jules said, ‘She’s had it cut short, curled and dyed blonde. Guess who that makes her look like?’

Kian’s eyebrows rose. Then dismissing it, he said, ‘Girls that age are always copying each other.’

Unable to deny that, Jules said, ‘You really don’t have a problem with Amelia, do you?’

He seemed baffled as he threw out his hands. ‘Like Daisy, I feel sorry for her. You can see how lonely she is.’

Yes, Jules could see that, nevertheless she still couldn’t summon the same sort of compassion for the girl that Kian and Daisy so easily managed. Nor could Aileen, who was at the pub later when Amelia turned up, looking so much like Daisy from the back that Aileen had already embraced her before realising her mistake.

‘What’s that all about?’ she murmured to Jules, as Amelia, apparently thrilled with the success of her new look, went to perch on a stool at the end of the bar.

‘I’ve no idea,’ Jules murmured back as Stephie came to join them.

‘You’ll never guess what she just said to me,’ Stephie whispered furiously. ‘She only said that Joe
asked
her to cut her hair like Daisy’s.’

Jules’s eyes widened in shock.

‘That is such bullshit,’ Stephie seethed. ‘He’d never do that, not in a million years. She is in such a fantasy world. I mean, apart from anything else there’s no way he’d even have her number to get in touch and ask … Unless,’ she added accusingly as Dean turned up beside her, ‘
you
gave her Joe’s number. I heard her asking you for it the other day …’

‘Yeah, and I really gave it to her,’ Dean retorted sarcastically. ‘What the hell do you take me for?’

‘Well we all know that you’d love it if the weirdo managed to split up Joe and Daisy so you could get a look-in.’

With a derisive sneer, Dean said, ‘You don’t know anything, Stephie, least of all what goes on between me and Daisy.’

‘That’s what you think,’ Stephie muttered, as he walked away.

Used to their spats, Jules said, ‘I thought he was over his crush on Daisy, and he and Joe always seem to get on so well.’

Stephie shrugged. ‘I guess they do, on the surface, but that doesn’t mean Dean’s given up hope. Anyway, I hear Daisy’s invited the weirdo to join us for the walk next Sunday?’

Aileen groaned. ‘Just please don’t leave her with me,’ she implored. ‘I never know what to say to her.’

‘She’s not interested in us,’ Stephie told her. ‘She’s only interested in Daisy. And Joe, apparently, but he won’t be here in time.’

‘I’m not sure Amelia’s coming either,’ Jules informed them. ‘The last I heard, she’s going to be in London next weekend.’

‘But of course she wasn’t,’ Jules said to Andee as they strolled along the promenade on the way to their cars. ‘She turned up on the day of the walk, along with the rest of our group, bright and breezy, raring to go, with a T-shirt she’d had made up specially. Can you imagine my shock when I saw what she’d had printed on the back?
In Memory of Jules Bright
, in great big black letters.’